ECNL
Meet the staff
Season 2022-2023
Team
Lead Coach
Co-Coach
Justin Oliver
Casey Holm
Birth Yr 05/04
Birth Yr 06
Tony Englund
Tyler Oliver
Birth Yr 07
Qassim Ilmi
Michael Porter
Birth Yr 08
Qassim Ilmi
Phil Walczak
Birth Yr 09
Jake Smothers
Tyler Oliver
Birth Yr 10
Joe DeMay
Alex Schnobrich
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Playing Career:
2 State Cups Championships
Eastern Illinois University (D1) - 2 years
University of St. Thomas (D3) – 2 years
Final 4 before losing 2-1 to eventual national champion Tufts. His senior year the team went 22-2 before losing in the Elite 8 to National finalists North Park Univ. The two highest win totals in MIAC history were by those two UST teams winning 20 and 22 games.
Coaching Career:
Gustavus Adolphus College – 2 years (First Assistant)
Upcoming fall - Associate Head Coach.
Education:
USSF B license Applicant
Master’s degree in Coaching and Athletic Administration – Concordia-St Paul
Tyler Oliver
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Playing Career:
Eastern Illinois University 2014-2016 D1
St Thomas 2017 D3
Louisville City FC 2018 preseason USL Championship
Kaw Valley FC 2018 USL L2
Minneapolis City 2018-2021 NPSL
Coaching Career:
Coaching St Croix 2015-2021
North St Paul HS 2018
Minnesota's Mr. Soccer and Gatorade Player of the Year, as well as an NSCAA All-American
St Olaf College 2019-Present
Licenses/Education:
USSF D & C License
Masters in Coaching and Athletic Administration Completed Fall 2021
Justin Oliver
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Playing Career:
NJCAA - All American
4th in the country in Scoring
Thunder Trialist
Coaching Career:
Hudson Soccer Association - 2001-2004
St. Croix Soccer 2004-Present
North St. Paul Hs Head Coach 2007-2018
University of St. Thomas Assistant Coach 2016-2018
University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Head Coach 2020 - Present
License:
USSF B license
Casey Holm
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Playing Career:
More to come
Coaching Career:
More to come
Licenses/Education:
More to come
Nik Martensson
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Coaching Career:
St. Croix ECNL Director
Coached in St. Croix 2008-Present
4 State Cup Champions (2009, 2015, 2017, 2019; USYS Regional Champions (2015); Coached the only MN boys team to go to the USYS National Tournament two years in a row (2015, 2016); #7, #6 Finishes at USYS National Championships (2015, 2016); teams finished #2 and #3 in USYS National League (2016, 2017); NPL Western Finals Champions (2021); NPL National Championship Final Four (2021).
Director of Coaching for Burnsville/Woodbury
Licenses/Education:
USC Master Coach
Author of 15 books about coaching soccer; Inaugural Jeff Tipping Award Winner (2016).
Tony Englund
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Playing Career:
More to come
Coaching Career:
More to come
Licenses/Education:
More to come
Michael Porter
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Coaching Career:
Current Head Mens Coach @ Anoka-Ramsey College
Assistant Women's Coach @Hamline University
Director Of Coaching @Bloomington United
Girls Soccer Coach @ Hill-Murray HS
ODP Coach @ MN Youth Soccer
Academy Scout @ Minnesota United Academy
License/Education:
USC National Premier Diploma
USC Director of Coaching Diploma
USSF C
FAW C
UEFA B (Finishing December)
Qassim Ilmi
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Player Experience:
Professional Player - Mayas de Yucatan, Merida Yucatan, age 16, 1991-1992.
U17 National Tournament participant: State team of Merida Yucatan.
Semiprofessional Player - Real Ermita, Merida Yucatan, 1992 - 1993.
Professional Player - Huracanes de Cozumel, Cozumel Quintana Roo 1994 - 1995
Coaching Experience:
Technical Director U13-19 St. Croix Soccer Club
Coach of 2008 Girls Academy St. Croix Soccer Club
Coach of 2010 Girls Academy St. Croix Soccer Club
Director of Youth Development MN Foot Tech
Technical Director MN Foot Tech
Olympic Development Program Evaluator (ODP).
Professional, dependable, and personable in charge of team needs and excellent
bilingual communications skills.
Soccer Education:
USSF A Candidate (only waiting on final assessment)
NSCAA Advance National Diploma
NSCAA course Team Preparation and Game Planning and Match
Analysis
NSCAA course Small Sided Games
NSCAA course Finishing and Coaching in the Final Third
NSCAA Goalkeeping course level 1
ECNL Specialist
Joaquin Izquierdo
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Playing Career:
Minnesota State University, Mankato
4 Year Varsity Starter at Prior Lake High School
Various Premier Teams
Coaching Career:
St Croix Soccer Club Director
Former Rev Soccer Club Boys Director
Former Northern Lights Director of Development
State Cup Champion
MRL/National League Champion
Minnesota Cup Champions
US Club Regionals Champions
US Club National Cup Tournament
Coaching License:
USSF C License
NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
Phil Walczak
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Coaching Career:
St. Croix Soccer Club: 2005- Present
2009-2004 Boys Technical Director
Academy 1 Coach
Stillwater Area High School Boys Soccer: 2013- Present
5 Suburban East Conference Titles
4 Section 4AA Championships
3 State Final appearances
2 Class AA State Championships
License/Education:
National D License
C License Candidate
Jake Smothers
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Playing Career:
U13 - U19 St. Croix Soccer Club - 3x State Cup Champions
U-18 Shattuck St. Mary’s
University of St. Thomas – 1 year NCAA final four with UST. 1 year NCAA elite eight with UST. 4 year all MIAC player.
Coaching Career:
6 years of coaching experience. Club soccer and other coaching clinics.
License/Education:
NSCAA 11 v 11 licenses
Alex Schnobrich
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Coaching Career:
Head Boys Coach Hubbard High School
Assistant Coach Youngstown State University
Head Girls Coach West Branch HS
Head Girls Coach Cardinal Mooney HS
Head Boys Coach Cardinal Mooney HS
Director of Soccer Operations Phoenix Soccer Club
ODP Region II Goalkeeper Staff
Associate Head Coach Purdue University Fort Wayne
Boys Director of Coaching Fort Wayne Sport Club
Girls Academy Director Shattuck-St.Mary’s
Licenses/Education:
US Soccer A Youth License Coach Educator
US Soccer Academy Director License
US Soccer A Youth License
US Soccer National Goalkeeper License
US Soccer Youth National License